Jehovah Shammah

And the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. Ezekiel 48:35 (nkjv)

The book of Ezekiel chronicles the dark, desperate days during the Babylonian captivity. The prophet Ezekiel had been snatched away from all that was familiar. He was preparing to be a priest of God, in the temple of God, surrounded by the people of God. Suddenly, he was deported to a wretched place of loss and abandonment. This man of God lost his family, his home, and his planned vocation. He surely must have felt that God had turned His back on His chosen people. However, the book of Ezekiel ends with a glorious promise to Ezekiel and to the people of God. In the closing verses of this great book, God revels Himself as Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is there.

Just a year after my mom died, I faced my own battle with breast cancer and I went through almost twelve hours of surgery and reconstruction. I vividly remember waking up in recovery in horrible pain, with no one there to comfort me. Due to the anesthesia and pain medication, I did not know where I was or what had happened. I could see the nurses in the distance at their station and I tried desperately to call out for help, but the words would not seem to form in my mouth. I remember feeling as alone and as frightened as I had ever felt in my life. Almost immediately, the Lord reminded me of this verse in Ezekiel. He is the Lord who is there. My heart calmed as I realized that I had not been abandoned, but Jehovah Shammah was there in that recovery room with me and would be with me throughout all the days of my recovery.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise that You are always with me. I look behind me and see Your hand of guidance. I feel You in my present circumstances, and I trust You with all of my tomorrows. Guide me today in the path that You have chosen for my life. Help me to rest knowing that, as Jehovah Shammah, You are already there. I can face all my tomorrows because of the promise of Your presence. Amen.